# The dancing lollipop lady

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-london-lollipop-lady-dancing
- Themes: work, joy, attitude, decisions
- Life situations: boring job, choosing a career, Monday mornings

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Being driven to the airport early one morning in London as children went to school, Ajahn Brahm sees a 'lollipop lady' stopping traffic with her big round sign — not walking across the road but doing hip-hop with her pole. It made him happy that morning, and gave everyone else a boost of energy whatever their night had been like.

## The story, as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

these are the people who look after the crossings Here in Australia they have flags. Over in the UK they have these big poles with this circular 'stop' sign. And I will always remember this woman maybe 55-60 year old woman English lady with a lollypop, she was dancing she was doing rap with the lollypop dancing away across the road and she made so many people happy that morning including me going to work on a Monday morning, me going for a long flight. That's all you need to do! Just add a little bit of fun to being a lollypop girl

## Teaching point

Whatever job you choose, what matters is how you do it; a little extra energy and happiness spreads to everyone.

## Reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

On an early drive to the airport, Ajahn Brahm saw a school crossing lady in London dancing across the road with her big round sign. She lifted everyone's Monday morning, his included. Whatever your job, how you do it matters. Add a little fun and energy, and it spreads to everyone you meet.

## Source

- [How to deal with chronic pain | Ajahn Brahm | 04-07-2014](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As9jmZBCUWU) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 34:32 to 35:13: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As9jmZBCUWU&t=2072s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Courage | Ajahn Brahm | 8 Jul 2016](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKlatq90npY) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 7:59 to 9:38: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKlatq90npY&t=479s
- [What path to take in life? | Ajahn Brahm | 08-02-2013](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn47GEy51WM) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 19:48 to 20:24: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn47GEy51WM&t=1188s